Subscribe to my newsletter - the Step Up! You'll get an inside look into my thoughts, mental models, and ways of going about life - with the goal of helping you do the same. Take the first step and join me on this journey. Newsletter every Thursday at 4:30pm CST.
The Step Up - Volume 2: Systems > Goals
Volume 2: Systems > GoalsDon't focus on goals. Focus on systems. Goals are exciting and wonderful and motivational and everything good!!! Until you need to achieve them.. Then comes the frustration, disillusionment, and burnout. Goals are nothing without the systems in place to achieve them. Goals are ideas. Systems are repeatable frameworks of actions. Goals are a destination. Systems are how you get there. And life isn't a destination - it's a journey. An infinite game. You don't "win" life. You live. Life itself is a collection of systems of doing and being (hence the name "human being"). James Clear, author of Atomic Habits (absolutely life changing book by the way - here's my copy with a ton of sticky notes), said it perfectly: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” You can set aspirational goals to lose 30 pounds in the next year or save 25% of your income over the next 6 months, and that's amazing! I'm all here for it (personal big fan of SMART goals). But if you don't have equal or even better systems in place to achieve them, you'll fall short. If you want to lose 30 pounds in a year, that's your goal! And here are some examples of systems you could create:
Ground your goals in high quality, enjoyable systems that you can repeatedly do with relative ease. And don't be afraid to change your systems around if you need! It's all about what works best for you to achieve your goals. And that takes trial and error. Just remember to focus more on the journey (systems) than the destination (goal). You may miss some beautiful sights if you don't. See you next Thursday, Steppers. We will succeed, Grayson Song of the Week:
Words don't do this song justice. Iris is a classic. The lyrics, the emotion, the instrumentation, the vocal belting, all of it. One of my all-time favorite songs and one of those I get reminded of every 6 months and am like "man, I love this song!" (most recently after hearing a pretty solid cover by Machine Gun Kelly and Julia Wolf). Timeless music. |
Grayson Stepanek
Subscribe to my newsletter - the Step Up! You'll get an inside look into my thoughts, mental models, and ways of going about life - with the goal of helping you do the same. Take the first step and join me on this journey. Newsletter every Thursday at 4:30pm CST.
Vol. 11: The Power of Thanks Friendsgiving at Cafe Bella Today's all about giving thanks. There's so much power in that mindset. Thankfulness. An "attitude of gratitude," as the Boomers call it (shoutout Zig Ziglar). But it's true. Poising your mind to be in a state of thankfulness is so, so powerful. Gratitude puts you in a positive headspace, reducing fears or negativity. It makes you more present and aware, pulling you from the future's "what if's" or the past's "why's." It reduces...
Vol. 10: If This Isn't the Time of My Life, Then When Is? This made me pause. This was the ending screen at EDEN's concert, and it's been a motto around his recent album DARK. It relates to one of my biggest struggles: constantly focusing on what's next and often forgetting to appreciate the present. If this isn't the time of my life, then when is? It's so easy to get caught up in the pursuit: Living for the weekend Attaining the next promotion or award Chasing that next PR I struggle with...
Vol 9: The Myth of Youthful Energy My actual calendar from last week Last week was a whole month. Literally the busiest week of my year. A productive, fun, meaningful busy - but busy nonetheless. It made me think about how people say they appreciate someone's "youthful energy" when the other person is doing a lot, and that's always stuck with me, but not in the way those people intend. "Youthful energy" is a myth. Putting myself in these shoes: I know people older than me who are working...